Obama, Romney: bickering for America’s sake

President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney are not enemies, but for the sake of America, they are doing battles, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

They have agreed on a few things: no military action in Syria, continuing support for sanctions against Iran and withdrawal of America’s military from Afghanistan. But their areas of disagreements are more. This is the tale of two presidential candidates: President Barack Obama and his challenger, former Governor Mitt Romney.

Obama is today expected in the vital swing state of Ohio, where, according to the latest polls, the president has a slight lead. Romney is ahead in Florida, and Virginia is a dead heat.

Like Obama, Romney is also stepping up his last-minute campaigns. Like they have done since their campaigns kicked off, they are going to use the next one week to paint each other in bad light.

Romney will continue to drum it into Americans’ ears that the president has not provided a clear example of American leadership for the world, whether in Syria or Iran or Russia. He is unlikely to also change his position that the president has failed to improve the economy.

Obama, too, will not abandon his song, which he has been playing to Americans: Romney would be unsteady on the world stage. The president’s employ of sharp and sarcastic language to cast Romney as out of depth is not likely to abate. Not with polls showing that they run neck-to-neck.

During the last debate, Obama lampooned Romney’s promise to increase defence spending by two trillion dollars and build up the US Navy – a move which Obama claimed failed to take into account the needs of modern warfare.

Obama said: “You mention that we have fewer ships than we had in 1916. Well, governor we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because that nature of our military has changed.

“We also have these things called ‘aircraft carriers’ that planes land on, and ships that go under water – nuclear submarines. So the question is not a game of battleships, but what are our capabilities…and how we are going to meet the best of our defence needs.”

On the issue of Afghanistan and al-Qaeda, Obama and Romney clashed repeatedly, with the president claiming Romney’s strategy was in a constant change of flux and in no way clear.

The president said: “And you know, Governor Romney, I’m glad that you agree that we have been successful in going after al-Qaida, but I have to tell you that, you know, your strategy previously has been one that has been all over the map and is not designed to keep Americans safe or to build on the opportunities that exist in the Middle East.”

On Iraq, Obama painted Romney as inexperienced, saying: “I know you haven’t been in a position to actually execute foreign policy — but every time you’ve offered an opinion, you’ve been wrong. You said we should have gone into Iraq, despite that fact that there were no weapons of mass destruction.”

The president also took Romney on about al-Qaida. Obama said: “Governor Romney, I’m glad that you recognise that al-Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia, not al-Qaida; you said Russia, in the 1980s, they’re now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.”

“Both at home and abroad, he (Mr Romney) has proposed…reckless policies. He’s praised George Bush as a good economic steward and Dick Cheney as somebody who’s – who shows great wisdom and judgment. And taking us back to those kinds of strategies that got us into this mess are not the way that we are going to maintain leadership in the 21st century.”

Romney, too, has delivered some upper-cuts on the president. Romney accuses president of ‘weakness’ abroad.

On his methods for dealing with Russia, he said: “I’m not going to wear rose-coloured glasses when it comes to Russia, or Mr. Putin. And I’m certainly not going to say to him, I’ll give you more flexibility after the election. After the election, he’ll get more backbone.”

He has also accused Obama of not providing the leadership at the world stage. Romney said: “I absolutely believe that America has a – a responsibility, and the privilege of helping defend freedom and promote the principles that — that make the world more peaceful. And those principles include human rights, human dignity, free enterprise, freedom of expression, elections.”

He also believes the president has not done much to stop Iran‘s nuclear project.

He argued that the country was “four years closer to a nuclear weapon” and that Obama has “wasted” the last four years because “they continue to be able to spin these centrifuges and get that much closer.”

Certainly, the next one week is a crucial one in deciding who carries the day. The candidates realize this and have planned to make the best use of it.

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